HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CALLS FOR RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN FIJI

6 December 2006


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said today the forcible and unconstitutional replacement of Fiji’s freely-elected Government raises serious concerns regarding the country’s ability to guarantee human rights.

Echoing the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for the immediate reinstatement of the legitimate authority in Fiji, the High Commissioner recalled that the country's 1997 Constitution protects human rights and fundamental freedoms, including through the work of the Fiji Human Rights Commission. Fiji must also abide by the obligations it has undertaken under a number of international treaties covering a broad range of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, she said.